China’s tough cybersecurity law to come into force from June 1

Online service providers in China will be banned from collecting and selling users' personal information from June 1.

Cybersecurity management staff must also protect information obtained, and are banned from leaking or selling the information, including privacy and commercial secrets. (Image for representation, Source: Reuters)

Online service providers in China will be banned from collecting and selling users’ personal information from June 1. The Internet service providers cannot collect user information that is irrelevant to the services, and they should handle such information in line with laws and agreements, according to the Cybersecurity Law adopted by China’s top legislature in November last year. The Cybersecurity Law will be implemented from June 1.

Online service users will now have rights to ask service providers to delete their information if such information is abused, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. Cybersecurity management staff must also protect information obtained, and are banned from leaking or selling the information, including privacy and commercial secrets. Those who violate the provisions and infringe on personal information will face hefty fines.

The new law said the government will take measures to “monitor, defend and handle cybersecurity risks and threats originating from within the country or overseas sources, protecting key information infrastructure from attack, intrusion, disturbance and damage”.

Efforts will also be made to punish criminal activities online and safeguard the order and security of cyberspace, it said.The law also made it clear that no one can use the Internet to conduct fraud or sell prohibited goods. Several other regulations will come into force on June 1.

A regulation on online news requires individuals and groups to get government permission before releasing news on instant messaging apps or social websites.Civilian drones weighing more than 250 grams must be registered under real names to improve civil aviation safety. An amended regulation on farming pesticide bans the use of highly toxic pesticides on edible agricultural products and strictly limits the use of pesticide.